SW11_Saint

Discussed to some extent on here... http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=13386 Don't forget the Docks and the container port is the backbone of the City (from a commerce perspective), so I think it's great to see them - but agree, they could do more around our history/heritage. I think we have enough shopping centres now...

Not to mention the old "Monster Coach" to away games...

No thanks. I'd like to see us cut all ties with the old Lowe regime, and unfortunately that mean Mark Wotte too. All the best for the future though.

Second that Derry. Here's to a brighter future. Sure this will be discussed on many an upcoming thread, but I'd still go for Ince as our new Manager. Happy days!

Fantastic news - in fact, better than fantastic news!! All going well (in next 21 days) we still have a club, and we have new leadership that can really carry the club forward. Onwards and upwards!!! PS I am now deleting my (anti) Lowe avatar - time to remove his spectre from the club for once and all!

I know, odd isnt' it? Nomatter what our contrasting fortunes, they just can't get rid of that chip on their shoulders. I guess we should be flattered!

Sorry, did anyone say she was born here? No, I said she lived here - slight difference. You forgot "Same Difference"...! Care to back that up with facts? Must be the old time, ahem, charm of Leigh Park etc...

Well said Alehouse - Game, Set and Match!!

The point about 'wasted potential' is on-point. My wife, who is not from the area at all, had a walk down the waterfront from Ocean Village to Mayflower park the other day, and commented on "how much more could be done to attract tourists" - around the port history, Titanic etc. She also pointed out (for those literary types!) that Jane Austen lived for some time in Southampton and the surrounding area - Bath bases much of it's tourism on the Austen connection, but it was the first I had ever heard that she lived here (and I am a born and bred Sotonian!). So it's not all doom and gloom from me - I always think, as I drive down the Avenue towards SMS, what a beautiful City it is (well, in parts!), certainly the parks and gardens are wonderful. Also of course the Rose Bowl is a cracking ground, as is SMS. In fact, watching South Today tonight the sports bulletin had an OB from Fratton, and then showed SMS when mentioning Saints - no comparison, and it really emphasised who the bigger club is - just need to get through these tough tough times!!

Has there every been a bigger contrast in the fortunes of the two main south coast clubs? On the day one announces a new billionairre owner, the other admits that it cannot afford to pay it's staff or players. One looking forward to the new season in the Premiership with a potentially huge transfer budget, and the other starting life in League 1 for the first time in 50 years, on -10 points, albeit with new owners (we hope!). Not sure I've ever felt so depressed about the state of our club, and so envious of the blue few down the road. Let's hope though that we are starting on the road to recovery and will one day take our rightful place again as the premiere side in the South (and that their plans to tits up naturally!). It did get me wondering about the wider context though. As someone who has lived outside the area for some time now it does seem to me that Portsmouth as a City seems to have a better focus on development - in terms of attracting commerce, global events, and developing tourist attractions. The Spinnaker Tower seems to pull in crowds, and gives the City an identifiable landmark, and I only hear good things about Gunwharf Quay and Port Solent (compare and contrast to "Ocean Village"!), and they've also taken notable and long-standing industry from Southampton (the cross-channel ferry business, Vospers etc.). All I have heard recently from Southampton in terms of development is about the "new Ikea". It might be chicken and egg - has Premiership football woken up the City to it's potential, or are their council just more forward thinking that ours? Am I being unfair to my home town, and does Southampton actually have more to offer than seems to be the case? It all does seem sadly reflected in the state of our clubs - while Peter Storrie was clearly off his @rse looking for investment, our latest board never made a mention of looking for investment - it was all about downsizing. And here we are...

I think he'd do a good job for them and he clearly isn't going to want to play in League 1 at this stage of his career, so a good move I'd say for both parties.

Admins - can we award a "Stupid Thread/Post of the week" award please? Honestly, what a waste of everyone's time. PS I've also thought why do we need "kits" - why can't our players just dress in vest and pants...?

Perhaps he's issuing his bill? Let's hope it is - for the RIGHT reasons!

Sounds fantastic, as long as they don't move us to Dublin - "Dublin Saints" a la "Dublin Dons" that was mooted a few years ago... Great news. Hope it comes off. Get that green away kit in too...

Possibly, he is Celtic mad. Tony Mowbray may be a decent outside bet - half decent managerial credentials, ex-Celtic player, and has managed in Scotland before. Also, it'll be a nice change from "boing-boing-ing" between the Prem and CCC with WBA...

Still, better than 'anyone including Lowe'!!!

Yes, but if they get this rumoured injection of £200m, and they want him, then he has the potential to take the club onto the 'next level'. I may be wrong, but all of the rumours currently seem to point to him going there. We'll see. Sadly, we can safely say he won't be making a return to Saints!

We can only hope - could Gavyn be the White Knight we need...? Would be perfect, but he probably has far too much sense to get too heavily involved in football.

Actually, wouldn't surprise me at all if Pompey aren't after his services - a few will be, but I reckon Sunderland will win out. Fits with their wish for a "bigger name" and can see him and Quinn getting on. Good luck to him, oh those were the days...

I wish... he's on his way to Sunderland. Put your mortgage on it...

Out of nowhere, the shop-keeper appeared...

Now you're starting to sound like the frenchman on the castle in Monty Python & the Holy Grail - "I farrtt in yeur generale directsion..". Time for a lie down I think GM, you've started an argumentative, and rather silly, thread, and seem to have worked yourself up into a right old tizzy... Toodle pip!

Now now GM, try to keep it civil - difficult for you I know - but please try.

In a word - NO. The fan base is there, the potential is there, we just need an ambitious owner, with a reasonable business head, to match that potential (something we have never had at the club in the past). PS Isn't it time you gave up on the "it's all the fans fault" theme GM?, all getting a bit tiresome... and no one bar you and a couple of others (19C, Jonah etc.) believe it. PPS I believe GD was in fact one of those fans who 'boycotted' during the latest catastrophic Lowe tenure...